Wisdom and Righteousness, 2

One can think of many men and women who are persons of conviction. These are those people who deny creature comforts in lieu of the just and right cause. How does one become a person of conviction? These are those who heed this, “Take hold fast of instruction; let her not go: Keep her, for she is thy life.” (Prov. 4:13).

OWN THE TRUTH-

(Prov. 4:10-15). One becomes a person of conviction by living this life. One is not born that way, nor does one become so in a vacuum. It is a baptism by fire that creates a person of conviction. Today there is more access to sin than ever, yet Solomon had many of the same temptations as today. There was the temptation to remain ignorant (vs. 4:5), to keep bad company (vs. 4:14), to scheme (vs. 4:16), to seek violent entertainment (vs. 4:17), and to deceive (vs. 4:24). All of these things require the Christian to be a person of conviction, not convenience. Solomon said, “Take hold fast of instruction; let her not go: Keep her, for she is thy life.” (Prov. 4:13). Every Christian must make the faith his own.

Be Dilligent-

(Prov 4:20-27). Many want the title, “Man of conviction,” but few want the work that goes along with it. There is no club with placards and name tags, no school, no written test that makes one mature. Solomon told this to his son, “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” (Prov. 4:23). What he meant is not that desires for things are evil, but that when they grow into inordinate demands they become idols. When does a desire become an idolatrous demand? It is when it turns “from the right or to the left” (vs. 4:27) of God’s word. The point is to get the heart right and the path will follow.

Wisdom is not book-smarts. Biblical wisdom is knowing the right thing to do in a given situation. Character, or conviction, takes this a step further. It knows the good thing, and does it (James 4:17).

–Benjamin C. Rochester

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Published by Pastor Ben

I recieved my AA in religious studies, and BA in Biblical studies at Southern California Seminary, and my M.Div from Westminster Theological Seminary in California. My Theological convictions are that of the protestant reformation.
I am a minister in the PCA serving Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in El Cajon California.
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